These are some not-so-fun facts that are aligned with the LGBTIQ Community. They are harrowing and things needs to change.

The mental health of LGBTIQ people is among the poorest in Australia.

The elevated risk of mental ill-health and suicidality among LGBTIQ people is not due to sexuality, sex or gender identity in and of themselves but rather due to discrimination and exclusion as key determinants of health.

Up to 80% of same-sex attracted and gender questioning young Australians experience public insult, 20% explicit threats and 18% physical abuse and 26% ‘other’ forms of homophobia (80% of this abuse occurs at school).

Approximately 50% of adult trans Australians experience verbal abuse, social exclusion and having rumours spread about them. A third have been threatened with violence, with 19% having been physically attacked (and a similar number reporting discrimination by the police), 11% experience obscene mail and phone calls and damage to personal property. 64% modify their behaviour due to fear of stigmatization and discrimination.31 49% of trans respondents to a NSW study reported having been sexually assaulted.

LGBTIQ people have the highest rates of suicidality of any population in Australia. Being 4-5 times more likely to suicide than their heterosexual counterparts.

Up to 50% of trans people have actually attempted suicide at least once in their lives.

Same-sex attracted Australians have up to 14x higher rates of suicide attempts than their heterosexual peers. The average age of a first suicide attempt is 16 years – often before ‘coming out’